Why the Cowboys were happy to finally get a diagnosis on Pro Bowl OL Travis Frederick

The Dallas Cowboys have not yet made any long-term decisions about their immediate future at center without four-time Pro Bowler Travis Frederick, who is out indefinitely with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

They are not even focused on a possible return for Frederick.

Per owner Jerry Jones and coach Jason Garrett, they are simply happy they finally got a diagnosis for Frederick, who has complained about stingers and had been less than himself since the start of training camp.

“We were really so happy when it was diagnosed that this was the problem,” Jones said. “He and we were concerned about that when we couldn’t get a diagnosis. The biggest thing we have been worried is his health, his long-term health, his individual well being as opposed to how it impacted us as a team or impacts him as a player but his well being is the most important thing. As opposed to some of the other things that might have been considered we thought this was great news of him being diagnosed. I’m just pleased that we’ve got our finger on it for him and his family. As it relates to football, I don’t have any definitive thing to talk about there.

Frederick has already started taking medicine. He is in great spirits and starting to feel better, per Jones and Garrett.

But again, there is no timetable on his return.

“I think he is handling it well,” Garrett said. “He is a great state of mind. He has responded well to the treatments so far. You could tell something was bothering him. You can tell he wasn’t quite right. Once we saw some things and he was sharing some things with us, we started to delve into some things.”

The frustrating thing for the Cowboys is that they thought all was well with Frederick after he visited noted Los Angeles spine doctor Robert Watkins last week. He was told there no long-term concerns and all he needed was rest.

But the symptoms persisted once he returned to Dallas, prompting him to pursue further evaluations from local specialists.

“I think he’s handled it really well,” Garrett said. “I think he’s in a great frame of mind. As much as anything else, the uncertainty of this was probably as bothersome as anything to him. He has these feelings and just kind of working through what it is. I think our doctors and our trainers did a great job sorting through it all and getting him to see the right people. Again I think he’s responded well to the treatment so far. Hopefully, that will continue.”

Per the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barre is a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body.

Several treatments can ease symptoms and reduce the duration of the illness. And most people recover from it, though some experience some lingering effects.

Per sources, the Cowboys are optimistic that this is not a season-ending injury, let alone a career-ending injury for Frederick.

But it is still a huge unknown.

Career-backup Joe Looney started at center against Cincinnati Bengals last Saturday and will continue to start there going forward with Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin as an emergency option.

Looney in his third year with the Cowboys and has 12 career starts, though he is having his best training camp.

“Joe’s played more football with the ones this year than he ever has,” Garrett said. “He’s handled the work really well. I think he’s gotten better individually. And I think we’re playing better in combination because of the reps he’s gotten. We feel good about what he’s doing. He’s a veteran. He’s poised. He’s composed. He’s smart. I think he’s fit in really well.”

Looney said he is going give it his best.

“You can’t replace Travis as a person and as the player he was to this team,” Looney said. “My career I have been a backup. But I prepare every week like I am going to start. You never want to see a guy get hurt. I am just going to do what I can help the team.”

Looney said his biggest concern was for Frederick’s health and his family.

“It was a shock to us all,” Looney said when Garrett informed the team of his condition. “Things are bigger than football. He wants to play with his kids.”

Said linebacker Sean Lee: “When it comes to football, football doesn’t matter. It’s making sure that his long-term health is all right and he’s going to be all right and there for his family. Yeah, sure, we don’t know the answers to this, but we know this: He is an unbelievable person with unbelievable character and he’s going to handle this so well and be an inspiration for us.”

Right Guard Zack Martin is Frederick’s closest friend on the team. He has never lined up in a game with Frederick to his left. He understands more than most what Frederick was dealing with in camp and his frustration of not knowing what was going on.

“You hate to see guys go through things like this and like I said during training camp, he really didn’t know what was going on and was kind of telling us how he was feeling,” Martin said. “It was tough that he didn’t know until a couple days ago. But we’re thankful that he knows and that he can get treatment and get help and hopefully take some time and be back when he is ready.”

This story was originally published August 23, 2018 at 1:17 PM.